Combined fire-escape and alarm.



C. R. KJELLSTROM.

COMBINED FIRE ESCAPE AND ALARM. APPLICATION FILED MAY 18. 1914.

1 1 4 1 ,7 l 6. Patented June 1, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

jwucwlo'zwihqcoom C HHRLES R. mam-mom W \m MW- v I a l roman 5 THENORRIS PETERS CO PHOTG-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, D. c.

C. R. KJELLSTROM.

COMBINED FIRE ESCAPE AND ALARM.

APPLICATION FILED MAYl8p l9l4.

Patented June 1, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

CHARLES R. KJeLLs-rRom Mommas c D, N m C m H n W O. m u m o H P w s R sr E P B R R a N s H CHARLES RICKARD KJELLSTROM, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

COMBINED FIRE-ESCAPE AND ALARM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1915.

7 Application filed May 18, 1914. Serial No. 839,246.

certain new and useful Improvements in.

Combined Fire-Escapes and Alarms, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention relates to a combined fire escape and alarm, andone object of the invention is to provide a fire escape, which isnormally positioned so as not to obstruct the view from the windows,which in ordinary fire escapes, makes them very unsightly.

Another object is to make it operable from any floor and to lock it in aposition conveniently situated with regard to all the windows in thesame vertical line.

Still another object is, that itgives automatically an alarm in all thefloors simultaneously as soon as a person descends on the ladder toescape fire in any one of the floors, when the ladder is swung to, or,with the ladder in normal or inoperative position, if a person attemptsto run up the ladder from below.

In the accompanying drawings, is 1llustrated one embodiment of thisinvention, and,.Figure 1 shows a front elevation of a part of a housewall with the fire escape in open or inoperative position. Fig. 2 is aplan view of'Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is ayview similar to Fig. 2 with the fireescape in operative position. Fig. 4 is a vertical section in largerscale of a portion of one of the rungs in the ladder and the side bar.Fig. 5 is a section along linen- 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a verticaltransverse section of a portion of the center post'of the ladder showingan electric contact. "Fig. 7 is a se'ctionalong line 77'of Fig. 6. Fig.8 is a plan view of a supporting bracket with latch, partly in section..Fig. 9 is a side view of the bracket on a portion of the main post.

In a'bottom bracket 20 preferably provided with ball bearings, ismounted to turn, the main post 21, which'I prefer to make tubular. Themain post is kept in upright position by other bearing-brackets 22, se-

cured by bolts onthe face of the housewall.

The top bracket 23' may form aclosing cap for the upper end of the mainpost 21. Arms 24 extend sidewise-at certain intervals from the main post2l, being fixedly secured thereon and provided each with a fixed handle,conveniently situated to be reached by a person in the room. The handlehas a downward extension 26 which is suitably shaped to engage with aspringlatch. 27, projecting through the side of each bearing bracket 22,and hold the ladder rigid in its operative position slightly away fromthe window, as shown in Fig. 3, the latch being best illustrated inFigs. 8 and 9.

On the back of each arm 24 is provided a heel 28 which abuts against theface of the bracket 22, when the ladder stands in its normally openposition, as indicated in Fig. 2. The outer end of each of the arms 24has a cylindrical bearing portion 29 which fits closely around thecentral post 30 of the ladder. As shown, this central post is alsotubular. Through the cylindrical portion 29 of each arm runs a rung 31horizontally. The rungs, as here shown, are made of gas pipe andcorresponding cuts are made for them in the center post in order to keythe parts together. If found necessary, the intermediate rungs may besimilarly secured in brackets fitting snugly on the center post 30. Theends of the rungs are connected by side bars 33 and Ts 34.

' As will be seen from the plan views, Figs. 2 and 3, the ladder standsparallel to the wall, when in inoperative position, and slightly at anangle when in use, and the arms 24 are bent in horizontal direction, soas to leave the side bars free in order to have no obstructions for apersons hands. At least one, 35, of the rungs is given a slight verticalplay in its bearings, having its ends supported on springs 36. Suitablyinsulated contacts 37 and 38 are provided on the under side of the rung35 at its middle and the corresponding bearing portion 29. The contactsare in the circuit 40, of a battery 39 and connected with an alarm 41 oneach floor. A latch, preferably in the shape of a bent spring 43 ismounted near the middle of the rung35, so as to lock it in contactingposition directly it has been depressed. A releasing member 44 extendsoutward so that on pulling. on the member 44, the rung will be raised bythe springs 36. Directly the rung 35 is pressed down by anyonedescending or ascending the ladder, all the alarms 41 will consequently,start going.

1 At the bottom of the ladder is shown a short ladder 42, which is hungso that it may be folded upward. between the main ladder and the wall,when the fire escape is not in from the bottom of the ladder.

use. This is done to, make the fire escape less accessible from theground except when in use, when the extension portion 42 falls down byits own weight whilethe'fi're escape.

is being swung into position.

InFig'. 1 is 'shownan attachment for facilitating the hoisting of thefire hose to the. upper floors. 7 most one of the arms 24 is a tacklewith pul- Suspended from the upperleys '45 and rope or chain 46, whichis long enough to'be -reached from the ground or The; operation and useor the device is evident fromthe above description, and needs no furtherexplanation,

lVhat, I'claim as new is lL-I n a fireescape including a ladder having amovable rung, opposing electric contaetson said rung and said. ladderrespectively, for closing an electric circuit, said contacts beinginserted in said circuit whereby tli'ecircuit will be closed on themoving of the rung. '7 I In a escape including aladder hav-'ing"a"movable' rung, opposing electric contactson said 'rung and saidladderrrespectively, bearings inthe ladder. for said rung,

said'bearings'having longitudinal: slots allowing slight verticalmovement of said rung, said contacts being inserted in acircuitwhereby'the circuit will be closed on the moving of the rung.

V In a fire escape including a ladder having' a movable rung, opposingelectric contacts on said rung';-and said ladder respectively, bearingsnthe ladder for said rung,

said bearings'having longitudinal slots lowing slight vertical movementof said rung, and springs normally holding the rung in its uppermostposition, said contacts. be-

ing inserted in a circuit whereby the circuit will be closed on themoving of the rung.

4 Ina fire'escape including a ladder having'a movable rung, opposingcontacts on said rung and said ladder'respectively, bearings in theladder for said rung, said bearings having longitudinal slotsallowingingmovable rung, opposing contactson @slight 'verticalmovement of saidrung, springs normally holding the rung in its uppermost position, alockingmeinber retaining. the rung in its lowermostposition,

said contacts being inserted in a" circuit 'Wherebvthe circuit will beclosed on the moving of the rung. r

5. Ina fire escapeincluding aladder havsaid rung and said ladderrespectively, for

closing an electric circuit, said contac'tsbeinginserted-in said circuitwhereby the circuit will be closed onthe moving of the rung, acentralpost from which the ladder is suspended, a hinge device forswinging the ladderhorizontally frominoperative' to the ladder in thelatter position.

, e a i ry operative position, and means for securing 6, fire escapecomprising a ladder having a movable rung, opposing contacts on saidrungs and said ladder respectively,

for closing an electric circuit, said contacts" being inserted in'sai'dgcircuit whereby the is suspended, a hinge-device for swinging theladder horizontally from inoperative to operative position, means forsecuringthe ladder inthe latter position, said hinge dee-I vice having amain post, bearings for the V,

and means for thus turningthe ladden 7. Ina fireescape including aladder having a movable rung, opposingcontactson' main post permittingthe turning-j of the ladder from-one extreme position to another, 7

saidrung and said'ladder respectively, for

, closing an electric circuit, said contacts being inserted in saidcircuit whereby-the cirrung,-a central post from which the ladder 7 issuspended, a hingedevice fOIKSWlIlQ'lIlQ,

theladder horizontally from inoperative to operative position, meansfor, securing'the ladder in the latter position, said liinge devicehaving; a main post, bearings for the main ipost permitting. the turningof the ladder iron one extreme position to another, and-sidew seextending arms from sa d main post, said central post be ng carried bysaid,

ing a movable rung, opposing contacts "on said rung and said ladderrespectively, for

closing an electric circuit, said contacts being inserted in saidcircuit whereby the cir- 8." In a fireescape includinga ladder l1av fcuitwill be closed on" the moving of'the rung, a central postfr'om whichthe ladder isfsuspended, a hinge-device for, swinging the ladderhorizontally from inoperative to operative position, means for securingthe ladder in the latterposition-i at a slightly 7 obliquez'uiglerelative to thehouse wallfand abutment members onsaid-hinge-device limiting-the turning of the ladder in one direction'so as to hold it parallel to thehouse M 9..In' a fire escape ladderhaw aing a movable rung, opposing contacts on said; rung and; said ladderrespectively, for" closing: an electriccircuit, said contactsabeinginserted in said-circuit wherebythe cir-f;

cuit will {be closed on the moving'of thej rung, a central post' gfr omwhich the ladder aiid 'a'mernber constructed to- 'engage-with I tively.p 10. In a fire escape including a ladder said plunger. situated in theimoviable and f parts ofthehinge-devioe re'spec- 'ZG circuit will beclosed on the moving of the rung, a central post Vfrom'which the ladderV 5 cuit ;will be closed on the moving, of the having a movable rung,opposing contacts on said rung and said ladder respectively,

for closing an electric circuit, said contacts being inserted in saidcircuit whereby the circuit will be closed on the moving of the rung, acentral post from which the ladder is suspended, a hinge-device forswinging the ladder horizontally from inoperative to operative position,means for securing the ladder in the latter position, said hingedevicehaving a main post, bearings for the main post permitting .the turningof the ladder from one extreme position to another, and sidewiseextending arms from said main post, said central post being carried bysaid arms, said turning means comprising a handle on one of said arms,said handle forming a stop for the turning of the ladder when in n itsoperative position.

v In a fire escape including a ladder having a movable rung, opposingcontacts on said rung and said ladder respectively, for closing anelectric circuit, said contacts being inserted in said circuit wherebythe circuit will be closed onthe moving of the rung, a central post fromwhich the ladder is suspended, a hinge-device for swinging the ladderhorizontally from inoperative to operative position, and means forsecuring the ladder in the latter position.

12. In a fire escape, including a ladder having a movable rung, opposingcontacts on said rung and said ladder respectively, for closing anelectric circuit, said contacts being inserted in said circuit wherebythe circuit will be closed on the moving of the rung, a central postfrom which the ladder is suspended, a hinge-device for swinging theladder horizontally, said central post being carried by saidhinge-device.

13. In a fire escape including a ladder having a movable rung, opposingelectric contacts on said rung and said ladder respectively, bearings inthe ladder for said rung, means for holding the rung out of contact andmeans to lock said rung in contacting position.

14. In 'a fire escape including a ladder having a movable rung, opposingelectric contacts on said rung and said ladder respectively, bearings inthe ladder for said rung, means for holding the rung out of contact andmeans to lock said rung in contacting position, and means for releasingsaid locking means.

15. In a fire escape including a ladder having a movable rung, opposingelectric contacts on said rung and said ladder respectively, for closingan electric circuit,

said contacts being inserted in said circuit whereby the circuit will beclosed on the moving of the rung independent of what position the laddermay have, a central 'post from which the ladder is suspended, ahinge-device for swinging the ladder horizontally between two extremepositions.

16. In a fire escape including a ladder having a movable rung, opposingelectric contacts on said rung and said ladder respectively, for closingan electric circuit, said contacts being inserted in said circuitwhereby the circuit will be closed on the moving of the rung, a centralpost from which the ladder is suspended, a hinge-device for swinging theladder horizontally from a position flat against the wall to a positionin front of a window.

In testimony whereof I aifiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES RICKARD KJELLSTROM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G."

